UNP to support peace talks based on ISGA proposal

[TamilNet, Friday, 30 July 2004, 00:18 GMT]
The main opposition United National Party (UNP) said Thursday in a press briefing that it would support the resumption of peace talks by the United Peoples Freedom Alliance (UPFA) with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) on the basis of LTTE's Interim Self Governing Authority (ISGA) proposal.

"The UNP will extend its wholehearted support to the UPFA government if it adopts a clearly articulated policy on the peace process accepting the ISGA as a base for future talks," said former minister Dr.Rajitha Senaretna addressing a press briefing at the office of the Leader of the Opposition, sources said.

He added that the UNP will never work towards defeating the minority UPFA government on the issue of the peace process.

Former minister Professor G.L.Peiris said that the delay in resuming peace talks with the LTTE will cause immense harm to the continuance of the ceasefire agreement, which has been in force for more than two and a half years.

The UPFA government should come forward without any further delay to reveal its stand on the peace talks between the GOSL and the LTTE, Professor Peiris added.